University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Texas A&M
Softball Upsets No. 7/9 Aggies on Thursday Night
3/15/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - To the exception of a win in the 1993 Women's College World Series, the UConn softball team has arguably never had a bigger win in program history than its 6-1 victory over No. 7/9 Texas A&M on Thursday night at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Freshman Briana Marcelino delivered the biggest blow with a grand slam in the third inning, while junior pitcher Jill Stockley (5-6) picked up the complete-game win, as the Huskies (11-15) upset the nationally-ranked Aggies in the Reveille Invite.
It is the first win over a ranked opponent for UConn since head coach Jen McIntyre took the helm in the 2015 season. Redshirt freshman Olivia Sappington went 3-for-4 at the plate, recording two RBI and two runs scored.
"We played a really solid game in all three facets. We received some incredible pitching and huge home runs," said head coach Jen McIntyre. "Our goal tonight was to attack…it's a huge win for our program and hearing from alums after the game puts a big smile on our faces."
Stockley was masterful, turning in a career-defining performance against the Aggies. She allowed just one run on eight hits, while striking out four in seven innings of work. Stockley stranded 11 runners on base and held the Aggies to just 4-for-18 (.222) at the plate with teammates on the base paths.
"Jill has ice in her veins. She is one of the best competitors I have ever seen. She just loves to have the ball in her hand and attacked from the start," said McIntyre.
Tied 1-1 in the third inning, the Huskies loaded the bases on singles by sophomore Carli Cutler and Sappington, while freshman Sam Barnett reached on a fielder's choice. The stage was set for Marcelino, who smacked her first-career homer, a grand slam, at the most opportune moment off A&M starter Maddie MacGrandle.
UConn took a commanding 5-1 lead after Marcelino's blast - the first grand slam by a Husky since then-freshman Chloe Kerns hit one against UCF last season on Apr. 28 in Orlando, Fla.
"A&M is a very solid team and has a lot of great moving parts. We knew they would make a push, but we wanted to hold them to three runs or less to give us a good chance," said McIntyre. "The home run was huge, and we just took it inning-by-inning."
No messing around tonight from Briana Marcelino! 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/2PBPb7fP2l
- UConn Softball (@UConnSoftball) March 16, 2018
A&M had a chance to chip away at the deficit in the bottom of the fourth, after loading the bases against Stockley with two outs. The UConn hurler stranded all three, retiring the final batter with a lineout to second base.
Over the final three innings, Stockley left five more runners on base - including the bases loaded once again in the seventh. The Aggies were just 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position on the night.
Looking for more insurance, Sappington singled home freshman Hollis Wivell in the seventh - her second RBI of the game - to extend the lead to 6-1. Wivell led-off the inning with a bunt single, becoming one of five players to record a hit in the win.
From the start of the game, what could have been an intimidating situation against perennial power Texas A&M was met with calm - especially when the Huskies took a 1-0 lead on a first-inning home run by Sappington.
"The blessing of having a young group is that they don't know when to be nervous and when not to be. They just came out and played," said McIntyre.
The Huskies have won two straight games and pick up a major momentum boost with the upset win. On Friday, UConn returns to action in a doubleheader against Marist (1:15 p.m. ET) and a rematch with No. 7 Texas A&M (6:15 p.m. ET).
